Genesis 50 - A Certain Victory - I

God's word is from Genesis 14:14-16.

 

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.”

Amen.

 

Today's text is the final part of the content for today's sermon, and we will actually examine together the long passage starting from chapter 13, verse 18.

 

Life of Reformation: Returning to the Essence

Here lies the first record of war in the Bible. This is the first time the word 'war' appears in the Bible. As we examined before, Abraham receives a very great promise from God. He would be the source of blessing, and He said his descendants would also receive blessing. And the Bible described these words of promise not just as blessing, or a declaration of blessing, but expressed it as ‘hearing the gospel’. Therefore, Abraham heard that gospel, the blessed news. And when explaining that gospel, the Bible always speaks not only of worldly blessing but of true spiritual blessing, and that includes Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who would come as the offspring of the woman. When he heard that gospel, he finally left the world and returned to faith. And we examined that he turned back, left for the original place where he should be, and made a confession of faith.

 

However, Abraham's life after that was not immediately completed as the life of God's people following God, but from that point on, the life of a true Christian substantively began. We called that returning to the essence, namely ‘reformation’. And we previously examined that perhaps every part of all our lives of faith is related to such ‘reformation’.

 

Abraham's Reformation: Worship, Possessions, Relationships, and Courage

This is an extremely important matter for believers. Usually, after believing in Jesus, we realize how much we don't know, and so think we must study and learn much. This is true.

 

Purpose of Bible Study: Rediscovering Forgotten Grace

However, we sometimes forget why it is necessary to learn and study so much. It's not simply because there are things we don't know that we try to know them, but in fact, the biggest reason for studying the Bible is to be reminded of the many things we had forgotten, things we possessed before but seem to have disappeared now, and this is the part most emphasized to you in the content of the sermon preached every Sunday.

 

Most Precious Gift We Received: Jesus Christ

To you who believe in Jesus, God says this: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ That only Son is Jesus Christ. What do you think God, who made and possesses the entire universe, considers most precious among all things? Without needing to say more, it is His only Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only Son. God gave Him to us.  

 

Now, let's return to the position of us who receive. Did we truly accept Jesus as the most precious and perfect thing in the world? Is that so? Did we receive Him as the most precious and perfect One in the entire universe, let alone the world? If we received Him like that, is there anything more we need or should receive? Naturally, besides Jesus, we should need nothing more. When singing hymns, we often confess that I lack nothing more. Because you and I are those who have received everything.

 

Direction of Faith Life: Not Adding, but Stripping Away

But unfortunately, we not only fail to know everything we have, but we also fail to properly enjoy it. Faith is not a process of doing something diligently and well while believing in Jesus to receive praise from God and wear a medal. It's not that God loves you more and gives you more depending on how diligently you perform good deeds. Because God gave us everything and has nothing more to give. We cannot possess anything more precious than Jesus Christ, nor do we need to. Therefore, in our life of faith, we should not try to add more things to what we have, but in fact, we must strive to strip away, one by one, our own things that surround us layer by layer. Stripping away too many thoughts or our stubbornness, and all the things we considered best and defined from a worldly perspective, is our life of faith.

 

Two Appearances of the Righteous: Abraham and Lot

Knowingly or unknowingly, all our thoughts and interests are directed towards ourselves. Therefore, our life of faith is, in a way, similar to the appearances of Abraham and Lot in today's text. These two people were equally righteous people acknowledged by the Bible. The Bible is saying that our life of faith should not be about following only Abraham's life because Lot is wicked and Abraham is good. In other words, this passage shows us the fact that even within the life of the righteous, there is a life that suffers loss, and there is a life that seems to enjoy everything within God.

 

God's History: Lessons Learned Even Through Lot's Life

Then we will come to think it would be good if we all lived a life possessing and enjoying everything within God. However, the Bible says that in the true sense, there is not a single perfect appearance of Abraham within us. Because Abraham in the Bible plays the role of a shadow showing us Jesus Christ who will come later, and through the imperfect life of Abraham, the perfect appearance of Christ must be shown, the Bible shows us the appearance more often found in our lives through Lot. Of course, I am not saying that the appearance of Abraham does not appear in you. However, in too many cases, we appear in the form of failing like Lot. That is why today's text becomes very precious to us. If the Bible told us we must live like Abraham and must not deviate from such a life, we would despair dozens of times a day.

However, if we know the fact that the lives of both Abraham and Lot are revealed in the appearance of the believer, and also examine what history God is working within that, we can realize through this Bible how accurately it explains who we truly are and what kind of people God's people are.

 

First War in the Bible: Lot's Crisis

First, I want to examine the life of Abraham that we have dealt with so far. From Abraham who first heard God's gospel, the reformation of worship first occurred. Next was the reformation of possessions. And the content we dealt with last time was the reformation of his choice, or the reformation of relationships, that occurred. That is, it wasn't a matter of choosing left or right, but the most important thing is that I exist within God and walk with God, I said. When I feel God's amazing hand, and know I am living within Him, God declares that the very place we stand on the path we walk is the promised land. In that sense, we learned that the land God intended to give us encompasses even Sodom and Gomorrah, and we came to think deeply about Lot once again. When Lot gradually moved towards the land of Sodom, the purpose or content of him choosing such a path is, in a way, very similar to our appearance now, we can know. Believing in Jesus, living diligently in church life, holding office and living a life of faith, yet still, all our decisions and thoughts, and all values are not in heaven, but constantly looking towards the earth - that appearance is also seen in Lot. Lot first moved to the place with much water that looked good to him, and gradually moved towards better places, but the end was Sodom.

 

Our life of faith is the same. At first, not knowing well, just little by little, agonizing over/troubled by non-essential things, trying this and that, eventually, rather than focusing on God's word, we become much more focused on things slightly more comfortable for us. The fact that there is much discussion these days in churches about worshipping online due to the pandemic is a similar case. However, we know well that what God desires from us in worship is our attitude. We repeat Jesus' words, ‘A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… but in spirit and in truth,’ every time we begin worship, yet when we have to decide on such worship formats, rather than thinking about what is important, we think more about what kind of worship format constitutes excellent worship. The important thing is not the format of us watching TV at home and worshipping, but whether we can emerge through all that worship with the appearance of one who loves God, and what will enable our lives to draw a little closer to God - we must decide this carefully.

 

If God commanded us what to do and what not to do, we might have more ease. If Jesus had commanded Peter which country to go to, preach the gospel, and do this and that there, Peter would have found carrying out the mission work very comfortable. However, Jesus asks Peter a truly ambiguous question: ‘Do you love me?’. And then He said, ‘Feed my sheep’. This is precisely a very advanced, high-dimensional method of God's communication. If God had instructed us in detail, one by one, the things we should do, we would have easily fallen into the trap of our own righteousness or boasting. Because from then on, we would start piling up the things we did in our hearts, and inevitably, in our hearts, we would compare ourselves with others through those piled-up things and try to place ourselves in a higher position than others. No matter how diligently we study a certain theology, or hold an excellent theological position, the moment self-righteousness and pride accumulate in the heart, we immediately collapse and perish. It doesn't matter whether it's excellent Reformed theology or any other theological trend. Therefore, the Bible is not asking us about the choice of left or right, but in fact, constantly asking us whether I am walking with God or not.

 

However, we prefer to hear simple and clear answers. For example, here's a story. It's something we heard a lot in the past; there was a debate about whether it's okay to go to a Chinese restaurant on Sunday and eat Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles). And regarding that, when the pastor or evangelist gave a theological explanation about eating Jajangmyeon on Sunday, and about the Sabbath, and said one should judge and act accordingly, some people would surely ask, ‘Then what about eating Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup)?’. Now we must know for sure where the core of what the Bible is saying lies, what exactly it is talking about, and therefore, how I should use the freedom of faith and conscience. God did not say to Abraham, ‘You go left and settle in Canaan, and Lot, go to the region on the right’. If He had done so, it would have been too comfortable for both Abraham and Lot. Instead of doing that, God, through His profoundly deep hand, as we will examine from now on, handles a human being not just by law and principle, but shapes a truly personal human being with His extreme love, mercy, compassion, and patience, crafting them as He desires. So today, in this time, we will examine how God deals with us within this text, and through this process, our lives can be newly reformed.

 

Historical Background: Mesopotamia's Four Kingdoms vs. Canaan's Five Kingdoms

Lot eventually went to the region that looked good in his eyes. But in fact, that region was not ruled entirely by Sodom and Gomorrah. Instead, the four nations including Shinar and Elam of Mesopotamia, where that region was located, ruled. This historical fact is partially recorded in the Bible, but its content is not recorded in detail, and accurate information about that region or records of the kings who ruled those nations are hard to find even in ancient literature. However, among them, the regions of Elam and Shinar are regions confirmed by many historical sources. Elam corresponds to the region where present-day Iran is located. It is the same place as Persia, recorded as Basra ruled by King Cyrus who freed the Israelite captives in the Bible, and Cyrus's hometown was specifically Elam. And Shinar, which you have heard much about as the plain of Shinar, is also the place where Babylon later originated. In fact, in Abraham's time, the Sumerian civilization was declining and Babylon was already beginning, so in the world history we learned, this time was called Old Babylonia. Therefore, in Abraham's time in today's text, Shinar was beginning to rise and was a nation that would later become a great empire. As such, it was the king who ruled the best regions in Mesopotamia. And the other kings probably ruled the regions north of Assyria and Turkey. Therefore, the kings in the text were the four kings representing the entire vast Mesopotamian region spanning the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. They invaded and fought against the kings of the five nations in that region, represented by Sodom and Gomorrah, gathered in the Valley of Siddim at that time.

 

Cause and Process of the War: Copper Resources and Refusal of Tribute

In that battle, the five allied forces of Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly defeated. So Sodom and Gomorrah, having lost the war, immediately had to pay tribute to the four victorious kings. But why did this first war recorded in the Bible occur in that land? Many scholars speculate that the land of Sodom and Gomorrah at that time contained much copper, an essential resource for the Bronze Age civilization. So the war broke out to seize that resource. And Sodom and Gomorrah, having lost the war, had to pay tribute for many years. Lot moved to the land of Sodom during this very period. And at this time, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah decided not to pay tribute anymore and resolved to stand up once again against the four allied nations of Mesopotamia, and it was at this time that Lot migrated to this land of Sodom.

 

Victory of the Eastern Alliance and Lot's Capture

The result inevitably led to war between these two alliances once again. To briefly explain this war using geography, the four allied nations of Mesopotamia initially began their invasion through the Damascus region and conquered the peoples of Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, and Horites in sequence. The place where the Zuzim people were located later becomes the region where Lot's son, Ammon, establishes a nation. And in the region where the Emim people were, another son of Lot later establishes the nation of Moab. The Rephaim, Zuzim, and Emim peoples are almost extinct peoples known as giants. Everyone, do you perhaps remember the king named Og of Bashan? Those who have studied Numbers and Deuteronomy might have heard of him. This kingdom of Bashan was also located in the Rephaim region, and Og, king of Bashan, is said to be the last king of the Rephaim people. It is known about this person that the length of his bed alone was 4 meters. He was of a giant race. So how well would he have fought in war? They were giant peoples like the Anakites, whom the Israelites who came out of Egypt feared as giants and dreaded entering Canaan because of. Yet those Mesopotamian allied forces defeated all such giant peoples and continued to strike southward. And eventually, they defeated all the peoples including Amalek and Amorites and won the war. However, the kings of these five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, cornered to the end, instead of declaring surrender, decided to make a last stand at a place called Zoar in front of the Dead Sea. That region of Zoar was famous from ancient times for having much sticky bitumen, and because of this characteristic, horses and armies found it difficult to move freely in this region, so they decided to use this geographical advantage to make a stand. And in this final battle, the five allied forces of Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly defeated. Having made a last stand, they could no longer flee. Trapped in the very bitumen pits they intended to use, they couldn't even retreat properly, so the kings barely managed to evacuate to the mountains west of the Dead Sea. Please look at the map below.

 

 

As you can see, the area west of the Dead Sea, that is, the left region of this map, was mountainous. And those eastern allied forces completely conquered Sodom and Gomorrah, occupied all those mountains as well, and took all the people here captive. And among them were the family of Lot, the protagonist of today's story. And consequently speaking, that was the biggest mistake of the people of this eastern allied army. If these people had not captured Lot, they could have returned with only the spoils of victory without any incident. We will examine the reason for this from now on.

 

Where was Abraham on this map now? Yes, he was in the Hebron region. The allied forces, having subdued even the Amalekites and Amorites, returned home along the black dotted line. The reason they did not invade the Hebron region at this time was because this area was rugged mountainous terrain. So they went up along the arrow to the Dan region, and Abraham, having heard the story in Hebron, chased them up to Dan, which is the content of today's text. In the text, Abraham, unable to find Lot even in Dan, chases further north and rescues Lot. Given the nature of army movement, the combat units are at the front, followed by the supply units, so it seems he encountered the supply units in the Dan region, and unable to find Lot, Abraham chased them near Damascus, fought with the combat unit troops, and rescued Lot.

 

Abraham's Expedition: 318 Soldiers

In dealing with this war story today, I want to offer two important explanations. The first is the fact that the number of Abraham's army soldiers who participated in this war was 318.

 

Meaning of 318: Emphasis on God's Power

What thoughts might we have when first encountering this fact? First, although Abraham had an army, it was only 318 soldiers, a small number, but since God was with him, it seems plausible that even with this number of soldiers, he could defeat a strong opponent. The reason the Bible counted and marked this number is not intended to show Abraham's military strength. The Bible intends to say that this small number of soldiers really held no meaning in this war. It is to show the fact that Abraham rushed forward with a powerless number of soldiers, who were nothing.

 

Abraham's Change: Overcoming Fear from Egypt

And the Bible introduces a behind-the-scenes story that cannot help but make us laugh. It is the content of verse 14. “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” The important phrase here is ‘born in his household’. This means they were those born and raised in his house. And he trained them to create a combat unit. This is a very important part. Because this time was when Abraham was about 80 years old, and that was the period right after Abraham went to Egypt and returned immediately to Canaan by Pharaoh's order. In Egypt, out of fear, he had faced a great crisis by deceiving his wife as his sister. Then, at that time, did Abraham not have the soldiers mentioned in today's text? If Abraham went to Egypt at the age of 75, it was only 5 years ago from now, and judging from the fact that they were soldiers born in his household, we can sufficiently think these soldiers were with him at that time too. Even then, there would have been plenty of people capable of fighting a war. Yet, despite possessing this military force, out of fear, he was afraid and never resisted. So when we hear the story of today's text, seeing his suddenly changed attitude, we cannot help but let out a slightly bewildered laugh. The man who was anxious and couldn't do anything even when his own wife was taken captive, now wages such a reckless war to save Lot, his cousin-nephew, who had left his uncle thinking only of his own safety – his appearance is not easily understood by us. Does Abraham's suddenly changed behavior make sense to you?  

 

Fruit of Reformation: Worship, Possessions, Relationships, and Courage

As believers in God, we always want to keep that faith, want to change in the direction He desires, and want to live according to God's will. Yet we are always frustrated looking at ourselves who fail to live that way. We find it so difficult to live like that, but Abraham in today's text is doing that very thing now. Abraham, who just 5 years ago couldn't do well, just like us, is living like that now, as we see today. Then what happened to him? The biggest change we observed in him was the reformation that occurred in his life. So he leads only 318 soldiers, attacks the 4-nation allied forces that had never been defeated in war until now and were flushed with success, defeats them, and rescues his nephew Lot and his family and people. He did it for Lot. And even though they could have possibly regrouped and returned to attack Abraham, he fought and won without fearing all this.

 

True Knowledge: Knowing Who God Is

Thus, a clear turning point occurred in Abraham's life. And the first of that was the reformation of worship. Through this, his knowledge of God could clearly change. You and I can always confess with words, ‘God is good’. But if we truly realize and know that God is good in my life, our entire lives will surely change.

 

Trust in God's Sovereignty: Fearless Life

Because for such a person, it is clear that their life depends entirely on God's hands. Not only that, but such a person says all their possessions also belong entirely to God. Everyone, would you sincerely try confessing that word? And meditate deeply on it. ‘My life is in God, and all I have is God's possession’. Could there be fear in someone who makes such a confession? If so, that person would be strange. While we are alive, God will protect us, walk with us, and if we die, from then on we will be with Him forever. If we know this, what is there for us to fear? Nothing in this world, not even death, can be fearful, because I am God's possession and belong to Him, there is nothing in this world that can shake or destroy me. So I hope you always sincerely make this confession. ‘I am God's, and His enterprise. He is my everything.’

 

Basis of Victory: God's Promise and Faithfulness

If you know and believe this is true, you have no need to be upset because you realistically lack something. Abraham too, now seems to have realized and confessed this fact much more deeply and seriously than before. And he possessed much more knowledge about the kingdom of God that God had promised. So Lot moved, believing only what he saw, centered on himself, and thus the path he took was one of pain and suffering, eventually ending up captured as a prisoner of war. Lot was also righteous. But he had to suffer shame. In contrast, Abraham was learning step by step who God is, and what a life centered on God is like. And among those, the most decisive reason Abraham could muster the courage to wage war to rescue Lot is precisely this: He came to know for sure that God is someone who keeps everything He promised, no matter what. Through the process of God continuously walking with him and re-establishing the covenant, Abraham learned how God saves His people of promise, and how He protects and loves them. And he saw and realized that God who protects the righteous is ultimately the victorious One.

 

Abraham had no certainty of winning this war now. Because nowhere in the Bible can we find a scene where God promises Abraham victory in this war. It's just that for Abraham, winning or losing this war was not the important issue; he just got up and went. For him, the outcome of the war could not be the deciding factor, and the only truth he knew was that God never gives up on or abandons the righteous. That truth alone was the only thing he possessed, and the basis for being able to get up and go forward. So he knew the end of the righteous. He knew he could lose the war. But he knows that God will ultimately save Lot.

 

Believer's Choice: Spectator or Companion?

So he could have the courage to rise up. If we realize such amazing facts, we would probably make one of two choices. First is, since God does everything anyway and will eventually save us, there's no need for me to step forward, and just watch what God does like a spectator. This also seems like not a very bad choice. If God predestined and controls the entire process, we don't need to struggle to evangelize neighbors and preach the gospel. But there is a second choice we can make. If God is working now to save Lot and is walking with him, the place I should be is the path God is walking, and I will be together on that path. Living a life walking with God. Not watching from afar what God does and later evaluating what God did based on one's own standards, acting as if I am above God.

 

Joy of Participating in God's Work

Not such a foolish life that fails to share joy with God, but the truly cool and beautiful life in our faith is, like the life of Jesus Christ who said, ‘As the Father works, so I work’, for us too to confess, ‘Lord, because You loved me and are working for me, I too will love You; Lord, because You are forgiving me, I too will strive together with the Lord to forgive my neighbor’ – choosing to live such a life of confession. Isn't this truly the life of a believer? Abraham also chose the latter life. Such a choice always exists before you and me. And we easily choose the lazy side, or the comfortable and easy side, the side where my feelings are not hurt.

 

End of Faith: Our Victory is Predestined

However, whenever we are about to make such a choice, we must think this. We are people who know the end. We already know what our end will be like. God has already shown and promised us what the end of our lives will be like. And we also know that God, who surely keeps His covenant, will take responsibility not only for my life but also for the lives of our brothers and sisters living the life of faith together. Therefore, we cannot give up on anyone. Because if God endures, we too must endure with Him and proceed to the place of loving that neighbor. Just because you and I performed forgiveness and love, it doesn't mean that person is forgiven and God loves them more. It's also not that God gives us greater blessing because we performed such forgiveness and obedience. Rather, living together with God is the greatest blessing for us. The moment I am walking together with God now is the best moment of my life. Because at that moment, we are enjoying the greatest blessing of my life, which cannot be exchanged for anything else. We know that God's love will ultimately win. We know well the fact that although we may seem insignificant in the world, later we will rule this universe together with Jesus Christ. Even Satan trembles before us. Therefore, we must know well who we are and where our position is. And because we know our end, our attitude towards life must also change.

 

Life of One Who Knows Victory: Courage to Live the Present

If we knew we would get 100 points every time we took a test, our life's appearance would inevitably change. Of course, there might be students who rejoice, thinking, ‘Now I don't have to study anymore’, but among them, some students will understand the teacher's intention and realize that what's important is not the test result itself, but enriching their lives through the preparation process, and act commendably. And we believers are precisely such commendable students.

 

God's Invitation: Participate in His Work

The reason God invites us to the works He could do all by Himself, and entrusts those works to us, is precisely God's love, inviting us to the place where God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working. So if you knew a member of the community was in despair, you couldn't just believe God would take care of it and do nothing, waiting. Even if it's like hitting a rock with an egg, we end up praying earnestly. And we cannot give up helping beforehand, assuming it's futile.

The Bible has never told us we are great beings. And in reality, we are nothing. We all know this well. Yet the Lord wants to work with such us. Even if we can do nothing, the Lord says it doesn't matter. And regardless of what kind of beings we were, or what abilities we possessed, God promises He will always surely win with us in this work. Jesus is always winning. And He will win forever in the future. And He urges us to participate in that place of victory. Therefore, we can no longer just watch from the outside like it's someone else's business. We cannot be satisfied just watching what God does like watching a sports game and clapping for Him. We must experience and enjoy the precious moment of working together with God, and not miss a single moment. Therefore, when we know a brother or sister is in difficulty, we cannot look elsewhere. Likewise, when I look at my own difficulties, I cannot despair about myself either. We cannot give up. Because we know our end well, we can wait. In the Lord, we cannot lose a single one of my children, my wife, my husband, or the saints who trouble me. Because we know well what path of victory we are walking.

 

Absence of God?: Narrative Focused on Abraham's Actions

There is a part we must not miss in today's text. It is the fact that God's name does not appear even once in today's text. This text reads like a news report. It's a simple story that Abraham participated in the war, went up to a certain region, and rescued 318 captives, including Lot. This story contains no explanation at all about what instructions God gave Abraham or what work He performed. If so, one might think Abraham decided on his own and participated in this war.

 

Melchizedek's Blessing: True Victor is God

However, in the story of Melchizedek, which we will deal with next week, we can find a hint to understand the true meaning of today's text. On the way back after winning the war, Abraham meets Melchizedek, and Melchizedek blesses Abraham like this: “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.’” I find these words of Melchizedek's blessing very surprising. This must have been the peak moment in Abraham's life. With only about 318 small soldiers, he defeated the allied forces of four great powers and recovered the captured prisoners and much spoils. In a way, he achieved a victory far more dramatic than Gideon's 300 warriors. It truly must have been the pinnacle of a human life. Yet, at that moment, Melchizedek is praying to God to bless Abraham. Even from our perspective, it seems Abraham doesn't need any more blessings. The text continues about that blessing: “And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”  

 

We might simply think Abraham fought bravely and seized that victory. We might think we paid our money and ate at the restaurant. We might think our business grew well because we worked hard. To such an Abraham, and to us, Melchizedek is speaking. ‘You are a being who must receive blessing now, and that blessing is that God was with you in all this work.’ Melchizedek is saying the reason Abraham, and our lives, shine is because of God. It's not the achievements of your life or your children that shine, but the fact that God was with you is what shines.

 

Reformed View of Possessions: Abraham's Refusal of Spoils

Regarding such a life of Abraham, the Bible calls Abraham a type of Christ. Not only him, but in fact, we too are types of Christ. Because the Bible calls us ambassadors of Christ. And also letters of Christ, the fragrance of Christ. Today's text features a total of 9 worldly kings, fighting and causing chaos among themselves. And the person who silenced all this was not a worldly king, but Abraham. He was an extremely lowly person whom no one recognized. He was someone who could gather only about 300 soldiers at most. Such a person silenced all these worldly kings. And the One who made this possible, who delivered all these worldly kings into Abraham's hand, is precisely God Most High, King of kings, and Creator (Possessor) of heaven and earth. The meaning of this word ‘Creator (Possessor)’ is, according to the English Bible or the Hebrew original, ‘Owner’. That is, God is the One who possesses heaven and earth. In the previous sermon, we talked about the reformation regarding possessions that occurred in Abraham. What thoughts would Abraham, who underwent such reformation, have had when he heard Melchizedek's blessing, ‘Creator (Possessor) of heaven and earth’? Abraham immediately tells the king of Sodom firmly that he will not touch a single one of all the spoils he brought back. Because he knew this victory was not something he achieved.

 

True Contentment: God Himself (2 Cor 3)

Everyone, this is precisely the exciting work of one who participates in the life where the Lord is winning. A seemingly ordinary day, full of frustrating things and many reasons to be angry, yet the Lord speaks to us. ‘You walked with me today too, fought with me, and you are winning with me on the journey I am winning. Even if it seems like losing, do not be deceived by it and do not be shaken. Because your God is winning now.’ That is why Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 3: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” When we live a day, we sometimes reproach ourselves, thinking today too, like other days, we forgot God and just lived as we pleased. We might think we only sinned throughout the day, but even forget that and fall asleep exhausted. Yet today's text speaks clearly to us. The Lord says we were not alone in all those moments of the day. He says that though we fought, the Lord fought together with us. That is why we can enjoy satisfaction from God.

 

From Glory to Glory: Our Final Appearance

Paul's confession continues: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Everyone, how is it? Do you feel moved? Does this word ‘glory’ deeply touch your heart? Is your current appearance so proud and good? Your entire life will shine, you will put on the image of Jesus Christ, possess the perfect and complete appearance of Christ, every word coming from our mouths will be good and become joy, and all our actions will be entirely good and pleasing to God - you will live such a life. This glory reaching glory is our end. You who do this, let us live today differently!  

 

Closing Prayer

Let us pray! Lord who leads from glory to glory, since You have let us taste and know glory, Lord, we too, like Abraham, will walk remembering the Lord who is with us in every moment of our lives. Since You have shown us the glory we will enjoy, let us taste that glory today and live. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!